Amateur needing lots of feedback :P

Well. This is the first time I've ever used a 35mm canon rebel. And im not to thrilled with how the pictures I took came out. Hearing adivce and tips to make them better would be great. I still have a longgg way to go until I get good, professional looking pictures. thanks.

first i am NOT an expert here. there are many others here who are way better than i am.

look on amazon.com for a book called Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. I highly recommend it as will many others.

Being a film user ( i assume you are since you said "35mm rebel") you are at somewhat of a disadvantage to a DSLR user because you don't get the "instant report" on how your photo turned out. I too started with film and it didn't take me long to see the advantages of digital.
Advantages like:
-The learning curve being tipped in your favor by the instant report.
-You can shoot all day and night for free.
-Make a bad exposure? no problem. just delete it and shoot again.
-Want to see how it would look in b&w? no problem. just change the parameters. or vice versa.
and many many others.

Film is alot cheaper to get into but harder to learn. many variables can affect film that are not easy to correct on the jobsite. even the film that you use can have an impact on your photo. film speed, film type,lab, etc all play a part in your photo. this is why it is VERY important that you read Understanding Exposure.

Photography is about many technical things. it is also about interpretation of a subject. if 10 of us all went and shot the same flower, you could quite possibly see ten different "takes" of that same flower under the same conditions. no one is right and no one is wrong. it's just our individual 'takes" of how the subject should be represented and how the story should be told.

TIP: for now try shooting in "automatic" modes until you become more familiar with your camera.

Remember this: no photographer shoots 100 pictures and has 100 keepers. most of them will be crap.

you have chosen to make an investment in not only equipment but more importantly an investment in the creative side of you.

TIP: try taking the shot from different angles and watch how the light falls on the subject. would the shot look better in the morning? the evening? at a low angle? at a high angle? from the south? from the north? etc.

I have a 35mm canon rebel K2, no digital. And I'll tell you that you aren't at a disadvantage learning from someone using a digital. So don't worry about equipment :er:.

Just think about everything you are doing. Especially try and experiment--the scientific way that is. Isolate something you want to work with. Angles was a good suggestion, try and go for 'easier' circumstances light highlight and good weather. Flowers and parks can be a good way to learn about depth of field.

We all know that film is expensive, and you didn't say which kind you are using. But in my experience Kodak Gold is great for casual shooting and only like $10 for 5 rolls.

I think the biggest part of learning though is not being afraid and going to places that are picturesque. Check the news, local sites. Festivals of any kind are good places. Ballooning, hiking, do something where you can see the shot in your head and not trying to pull for something that isn't really there... makes sense? i'm tired